Primary Constraint refers to the one key condition that currently most limits higher sustainable throughput or performance in the system. All systems will have a single primary constraint. Once you identify the primary constraint, you have two choices. You can choose to resolve it, and then the new one will emerge to take its place, requiring you to plan and manage any related event horizons. This process is called Vertical Performance Improvement.
Alternatively, you can choose to optimize at the constraint, meaning that you intend to keep it where it is and use it as a single point of control for managing the system. This process is called Horizontal Performance Improvement. See Cascades of Key Conditions.
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